How to Know Which Human Foods Are Toxic for Dogs

By eHow Pets Editor

Instructions

Step 1:
Contact your veterinarian or local American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) office for a complete list of human foods that are toxic to dogs. You can also search online for a complete list of human foods, plants and common household items that are dangerous to canines.
Step 2:
Feed your dog scraps with the utmost care. Most meats are safe as dogs are naturally carnivorous. But scraps should never make up more than 10% of your dog's diet. In general, human foods are dangerous to dogs because their metabolism is different. Some human foods only cause your dog mild irritation and digestive upset, whereas others can lead to serious illness and death.
Step 3:
Avoid giving your dog alcoholic beverages, chocolate, coffee, tea, and other foods or beverages with lots of caffeine. Macadamia nuts, mushrooms, onions, garlic, and yeast dough should also be avoided. All of these human foods are severely toxic to dogs.
Step 4:
Secure your garbage. You may think that once food goes into the garbage it's safe from your dog's reach. However, dogs are excellent scavengers and while you're sleeping or out of the house your dog can be scrounging through an unsecured garbage bin for a quick snack.
Step 5:
Keep a careful eye on all food items when preparing, cooking and serving them. It's amazing how quickly your pooch can steal something off a cabinet or table.
Step 6:
Store all food, toxic and non-toxic, well out of Fido's reach. Keep it in high cabinets or shelves where there is zero chance of them being picked through if left open.
Step 7:
Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Hotline at (888) 426-4435 if you think your dog has eaten something toxic. Call your veterinarian immediately if your dog begins showing signs of distress—labored breathing, sweating, increase in heart rate, tremors, vomiting or diarrhea.

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